‘ Mrs Doyle’ is backing new degree courses
New degree courses at IT Sligo are in keeping with the county’s creative heritage according to Sligo- born actor and writer Pauline McLynn
She said the college’s new Bachelor of Arts honours degree programmes will provide students with new opportunities both in their professional and personal lives.
Ms McLynn, famous for her role as Mrs Doyle in the hit television show, Father Ted and for her part as Libby Croker in Channel 4’ s Shameless, was speaking at the official launch of the Institute’s new honours degree programmes which begin this September.
The new courses are: Bachelor of Arts ( Hons) in Humanities: Joint Major in English & Psychology; Bachelor of Arts ( Hons) in Humanities: Joint Major: in Sociology & Politics and a Bachelor of Arts ( Hons) in Writing & Literature.
“I envy the first intake of students for these new courses,” said Ms McLynn, who, as a student, travelled to Dublin to complete her Arts degree course.
“We all know that Sligo is a place of poets, thinkers, creatives, a place of great beauty. Now it has the educational offering at third level in this area, which is in keeping with that heritage.”
The Institute’s School of Business & Social Sciences is introducing the two Bachelor of Arts ( Honours) in Humanities Joint Major degrees.
“This is a first for IT Sligo and the region, and is a response to the growing demand for degree courses featuring these subjects in the Humanities area,” said Dr Breda McTaggart who is Head of Department of Social Sciences at IT Sligo.
“These courses provide a new, more accessible gateway to the study of humanities in the North West region. In the past, students have had to travel long distances to find courses like these.
“Now, established humanities degree opportunities are available closer to home, delivered by a well- known and experienced lecturing team.”
The new Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing & Literature is an innovative three- year programme which focuses on developing writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, cultural journalism and other written forms and genres.
Students will study English literature, drama, film as well as digital media, providing the critical context and the skills required of a writer in the digital age.
“We want to attract students who understand that the written and spoken word is more important than ever before,” explained John Kelleher, Head of Department of Computing & Creative Practices at IT Sligo.
“In an era where we have fake news and misleading information, we want to instil in our graduates the integrity of the written and spoken word.
“Those are the people that we want to attract.”
Welcoming the new additions to the Institute’s educational offering, Dr Brendan McCormack President of IT Sligo said: “The North West is renowned for a cultural vibrancy, inspired by its landscape and history. Sligo and the region have helped shaped the work of so many writers and thinkers down through the ages.
“Many of them have chosen to live in this part of the world. It is this sense of place which differentiates Sligo from other parts of the country.
“So, I believe it is very appropriate that the Institute should play a role in the educational stewardship of these areas,” he said. For more information on IT Sligo’s new Bachelor of Arts degree courses in the Humanities and in Writing & Literature, visit itsligo. ie.